Each participant will go home with their own tasting set. (Courtesy Photo: Riedel Crystal)

Riverhead - Located at the gateway to the Hamptons and the North Fork Wine Region, the boutique Hotel Indigo will host a Grand Wine Salon featuring Maximilian Riedel of the world renowned Austrian glass making dynasty Riedel Crystal on Saturday, September 17. CEO of Riedel Crystal of North America, Riedel represents the 11th generation of a family of glassmakers that date back to the 17th century.

Riedel's grandfather, Claus Josef Riedel (1925-2004) is credited with changing stemware from traditional colored and cut glass to plain, unadorned, thin blown, long stemmed wine glasses, essentially creating the modern wine glass. He was the first glassmaker in history to recognize the effect of shapes on the perception of alcoholic beverages, creating the first ever stemware line to be based on the character of wine. The line was appropriately called "Sommeliers" and according to legendary Wine Advocate wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr., "The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make."

Maximilian Riedel will lead a tasting that he believes will change the way we drink wine. (Courtesy Photo: Riedel Crystal)

As part of this weekend's Harvest East End Wine Auction and Celebration sponsored by Food & Wine Magazine, Hotel Indigo will present the Riedel Challenge in their stunning Indigo Ballroom with Maximilian Riedel leading a tasting that he believes will change the way we drink wine. He will explain the theory behind the design of Riedel crystal, from the shape of the bowl to the design of the rim, as the glass affects the aroma, taste and harmony of a wine on its journey from glass to palate.

Participants will take home their wine tasting varietal glass set from Riedel's Vinum XL series (a $124 value) and are invited to join Riedel for a private artisan cheese and North Fork wine reception at Hotel Indigo's critically acclaimed Bistro 72 following the program.

We suggest you make a day of it by taking your Riedel stemware tasting set on the road for a tasting tour of some of the over 40 extraordinary vineyards that dot the North Fork like Lenz, Borghese, Martha Clara, Pindar, Duck Walk North, Raphael and Jamesport Vineyards, to name just a few.

Claus Josef Riedel was the first glassmaker in history to recognize the effect of shapes on the perception of alcoholic beverages. (Courtesy Photo: Harvest East End)

Better yet, make a weekend of it with a two night stay at Hotel Indigo that, as always, will be featuring live music all weekend with the Steve Watson Trio Jazz Jam on Friday night and guitar/vocalist Jesse Barnes on Saturday evening in the hotel's beautiful restaurant Bistro 72.

Tickets for the Riedel Challenge are $75 per person, tasting set included, and can be purchased at www.harvesteastend.com/tickets. The event will take place on Saturday, September 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the aforementioned reception to follow.